Synthesis and Study of Molybdenum-Doped Layered Double Hydroxide for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Hydrogen is a clean and sustainable energy carrier that produces only water as a by-product when utilized in fuel cells. Electrochemical water splitting is considered one of the most promising and environmentally friendly approaches. The efficiency of this process largely depends on the activity and stability of the electrocatalyst. Therefore, this study focuses on the synthesis of Mo-doped Ni layered double hydroxide (Mo-Ni-LDH) via a simple coprecipitation method. The incorporation of Mo is expected to enhance the catalytic activity of Ni-LDH by improving charge-transfer kinetics and reducing the overpotential required for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Additionally, the Mo-Ni-LDH nanocomposite is anticipated to exhibit electrochemical stability under alkaline conditions. The synthesized Mo-Ni-LDH electrocatalyst demonstrated low overpotentials of 155 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and 267 mV at 50 mA cm-2, outperforming pristine Ni-LDH in alkaline media. The enhanced HER activity can be attributed to the synergistic interaction between Mo and Ni species, as well as the multiple oxidation states of the transition metals, which facilitate efficient electron transfer and increase the number of active sites. These findings demonstrate that Mo doping is an effective strategy for improving the electrocatalytic performance of Ni-LDHs and provide valuable insights for the rational design of high-performance LDH-based electrocatalysts for sustainable hydrogen production.